Coin escrow means and circuit

ABSTRACT

An escrow attachment adapted for use with known types of coin testing chute having one or more coin switches actuated by an accepted coin departing from a guideway or exit to lodge upon and tilt a switch-actuating lever arm and in so doing operate the appertaining coin switch. The &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;escrow&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; or holding of the coin is effected by means of a reciprocable escrow slide underlying the switch levers and in a normal position limiting the tilt of the lever in a way to cause the coin to remain upon the lever until such time as a control circuit energizes a release solenoid shifting the escrow slide to permit the switch lever to tilt still farther and effect discharge and collection of the coin.

United States Patent Tojza et al.

[ 51 Oct. 10, 1972 COIN ESCROW MEANS AND CIRCUIT [72] Inventors: Roman A. Tojza, Chicago; Frank C. De Simone, Rolling Meadows, both of I11.

[73] Assignee: Bally Manufacturing Corporation,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 67,478

[52] U.S. Cl ..194/9 [51] Int. Cl ..G07f 5/10 [58] Field of Search ..194/9, 10

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,034,627 5/ 1962 Nichols ..194/9 R 2,391,866 l/l946 Childers 194/9 R 2,519,046 8/1950 Hull ..l94/9 R Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Attorney-Canard Livingston [57] ABSTRACT An escrow attachment adapted for use with known types of coin testing chute having one or more coin switches actuated by an accepted coin departing from a guideway or exit to lodge upon and tilt a switch-actuating lever arm and in so doing operate the appertaining coin switch. The escrow or holding of the coin is effected by means of a reciprocable escrow slide underlying the switch levers and in a normal position limiting the tilt of the lever in a way to cause the coin to remain upon the lever until such time as a control circuit energizes a release solenoid shifting the escrow slide to permit the switch lever to tilt still farther and effect discharge and collection of the coin.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures COIN ESCROW MEANS AND CIRCUIT Conventional coin testing and acceptance chutes utilized in vending. amusement and other coin-controlled machines commonly accept one or several denominations of coin; for example, lO-, and 25- cent coins may be deposited in a single coin entrance singly or in combinations equating to the particular value of the purchase or service required, and selective switching means is utilized to totalize the amount and set up credit before initiating the intended vending or service operation. Thus, a 5-cent and a 8l-cent piece may be required in one instance, or two lO-cent pieces in another, or a IO-cent and a 25-cent piece in still another.

The simplest type of coin control system may rely upon direct vending operations signalled by coin switches each directly actuated by a corresponding one of the several coin elements deposited, but such systems are highly vulnerable to faulty and fraudulent operation from such causes as fluttering, weak, or absent coin switch signals, or repeating vending signals from deposit of a single coin accompanied by appropriately-timed pounding or jarring of the machine, or by resort to numerous other fraudulent manipulations well known in the art.

The more effective control systems hold the deposited coins for a substantial time in operating engagement with the appertaining coin switch before permitting the coin to pass from such switch in order to get a positive deposit and value signal and discourage the multiple operation per coin type of fraud. When the deposited values have been properly registered in some form of credit accounting or storage control circuit, usually electrical, the accepted coins are caused or permitted to move on into the collection receptacle. In some of the more elaborate systems the coins may also be held subject to selective release for return to the depositor, as when the goods supply in a vending machine has been exhausted, or in case of malfunction, insufficient deposit, etc. Such coin crediting arrangements are frequently referred to as escrow systems and are known to take various forms, much of the equipment being complex and relatively costly, particularly when the escrow and circuit-control means are manufactured as part of a unitary coin-testing apparatus or chute structure.

In addition to providing a novel and relatively simple and rapidly operating coin-credit and escrow control circuit having a high degree of reliability as well as fraud and failure resistance, the present disclosures provide a very simple escrow device which is readily adaptable to use with conventional multiple or single coin-accepting testing chutes either as an auxiliary attachment for combination with existing equipment, or as a complete cradle-type subassembly adapted to receive known types of testing chute, as will appear more fully in view of the following description of an illustrative construction shown in the annexed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the escrow cradle and escrow unit carried thereby;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of parts of the escrow means and coin switches;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective detail of one of the coin switch levers;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the escrow slide and cooperating solenoid plunger disjoined therefrom;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of a complete coin-chute and escrow unit assembly;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the assembly of FIG. 5 with the coin chute removed, showing the escrow cradle and coin chute cradle in assembly;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section through both cradles looking along lines 8-8 of FIG. 6 at certain coin blocking means;

FIG. 9 is another enlarged fragmentary section through the escrow cradle looking down along lines 9- 9 of FIG. 6 at the escrow unit;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view, to enlarged scale, looking upwardly at the coin exits situated in the lower margin of the coin testing chute;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for a control circuit cooperative with the escrow apparatus.

As depicted in FIG. 1, the escrow unit comprises a large escrow cradle consisting of a base plate 10 having opposite vertical edge portions upset to provide low upstanding spacer flange portions 10A which serve to locate a smaller cradle 40 in spaced relation thereto in the composite assembly of the escrow and chute cradles shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

Certain localized portions of said upset spacer flanges are continued upwardly from the plane of the base plate to define a pair of long, spaced-apart mounting fingers 108 on the left side of the escrow cradle, FIG. 1, there being a similar elongated upstanding mounting finger 10C disposed on the right-hand side of said cradle plate, these three long finger extensions having holes at their ends to receive mounting pins projecting from the sides of the smaller coin-chute cradle and a coin testing chute carried thereby, as will further appear.

Still further flange portions are blanked out along the right-hand margin of the base plate 10 and upset to provide a long vertical bracket arm 10D, FIGS. 1 and 7, for the purpose of mounting certain appendages such as a blocking-finger electromagnet 13 from the armature of which projects a long wire-form (FIGS. 6, and 8) having three offset coin-blocking fingers 13A, 13B, 13C adapted to lie in the space between the two cradles and to be moved in and out of the coin chute to and from the full-line coin blocking position to the dotted-line coin-passing position seen in FIG. 8.

Also supported by the long bracket arm 10D and adjacent spacer flange portions is a coin-switch assembly (FIGS. 1 and 7) comprising a plate 14 upon which are fixed three stack or blade-type switches 15A, 15B, 15C. Beneath each coin switch is a corresponding actuating member or lever 17 (FIG. 2) having the shape shown to enlarged scale in FIG. 3 and pivotally supported on a common cross pin 18 supported on lugs struck up from the switch plate.

Each switch-actuating lever has at one end an enlarged head portion including a cam formation 17A, 178, or 17C, adapted to bear against the flexible switch blade of the appertaining coin switch in such a way that the spring action of such blade urges the lever into a normal position with the switch in an open-circuit condition. Each switch lever also has an elongated lever arm in which is formed (FIGS. 3 and 9) a trough formation, as at 17AX, FIG. 3, adapted to receive the edge of a coin resting thereon as in FIG. 2, the weight of such coin serving to rock the lever to a first tilted position and close the corresponding coin switch, as in dotted lines, FIG. 2.

Normally such a coin switch operation would result in only a momentary transitory closure of the switch because the coin would be rapidly discharged gravitationally from the lever arm by the resultant inclination thereof. This would be the usual operation of a coinchute switch of the class described, but such actuation is found to be unsuited to most credit and vending operations, because it tends to produce unsatisfactory and unreliable control signals owing to the rapid momentary operation of the switch which in many instances also produces a fluttering or insufficient contact closure. Such arrangements are also vulnerable to fraudulent operation. To eliminate the difficulties of transitory switch operation and also extend the coincontrolling possibilities, various arrangements, commonly known as escrow systems, have been resorted to to hold the coin by one means or another at the control station until various inter-related circuit operations can be positively completed. Some escrow systems are integrated with the coin chute and others are of auxiliary character, but both types tend to be complex and expensive.

The simple escrow means disclosed herein can be used with any suitable coin chute to handle one or several coins and cooperate with many kinds of control circuitry, and comprises, as seen in FIG. 1, an elongated U-shaped bracket 20 supported at the bight thereof by a screw engaging an upset lug X struck up from the escrow base plate, and by further screws 21 at the offset ends of the bracket arms engaging the long base bracket portion and right-hand narrow side flange 10A of said base plate, FIGS. 7 and 9.

Formed in the opposite side arms of the U-shaped bracket are horizontally-elongated slideway slots 22 and spring-anchoring tabs 23. A molded slide member 25 having the shape depicted to enlarged scale in FIG. 4 has a base portion 26 with slide extensions 26A at the opposite sides thereof respectively fitting into the horizontal bracket slots so that the slide member may move freely back and forth, springs 28 being attached to hooked portions 268 of said slide extensions and to said anchor tabs 23, as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, to dispose the slide member in a normal position beneath the end portions of the several switch-actuating coin levers, there being an upwardly-extended cross web 27 integral with the slide base to underlie said lever arms and prevent their rocking to fully lowered condition under the weight of a coin-C-, FIG. 2, so long as said slide member remains in said normal position.

The slide member 25 is preferably molded from a suitable synthetic plastic material, such as Nylon, and has formed integrally therewith a coupling yoke 27X adapted to engage a circumferential groove 29A at the end of a solenoid plunger 29, FIGS. 2 and 4, said plunger being attractable into the bore of a solenoid winding 30 also attached by the bracket supporting screws 33 on the long escrow base plate bracket arm 10D. When the solenoid is energized to attract the plunger, the escrow slide member 25 is shifted toward the right to the dash-dot position, FIG. 2, thus allowing any coin-weighted switch-actuating lever to tilt still farther and discharge the coins thereon, as at -C"-, for movement into the cash box (not shown) by reason of movement of such coins free of the margins of the corresponding coin-exit formations 39?, 398, 39T (FIG. 10) in the overlying coin-chute body.

It will be apparent that the described escrow unit can be used with any coin-testing or coin-delivery or guide means having coin exits or guide means adapted to be juxtaposed with the switch-actuating lever means for analogous operation. For purposes of illustration, one suitable arrangement is exemplified by the embodiment of FIG. 5 wherein a known type of coin-testing or acceptor unit 35 is removably mounted by stud pins 36 on a smaller coin-chute cradle 40 which in turn is removably seated and locked by stud-pin means thereon on the larger escrow cradle 10 in the superimposed relationship depicted in FIG. 6, the chute cradle plate having punched openings through which the aforementioned coin-blocking fingers 13A, 13B, 13C project for entrance through similar openings in the rear wall of the coin chute (not seen) to block coin elements descending therein in known manner and prevent their passage to the acceptance exits until a control signal is applied to the blocking electromagnet 13 to cause withdrawal of said blocking fingers so that the coins can continue toward the acceptance exits and lodge upon the switch-actuating levers.

The smaller coin-chute cradle 40 is similar to the escrow cradle in that it also has side flanges 40A which are, however, considerably wider (FIG. 7) and from the left-hand one of which project upper and lower stud pins 41A, 41B, engageable in holes in the elongated mounting fingers or tabs 108 (FIG. 1) of escrow cradle.

The coin testing chute also has sidewise stud pins 36, 36X projecting from the side margins thereof to engage in slots formed in the side walls of the chute cradle, FIGS. 5 and 7, such that the coin chute can be removed from the smaller cradle by manipulation to free the corresponding stud pins in known manner.

In order to prevent the unintended dislodgement of the coin-chute cradle from the larger escrow cradle when the coin chute is manipulated for removal or installation, a locking means is provided in the form (FIG. 7) of an L-shaped bracket 50 having a hole in the offset arm thereof into which the upper right-hand stud pin 36X of the coin chute projects beyond the coinchute cradle into said locking piece, there being a thumbscrew 51 passed through the opposite end of the locking piece and threaded into the side wall of the chute cradle through a hole in the escrow plate finger 10C so as to prevent removal of the coin chute so long as the thumbscrew is turned down, and to permit removal of the chute when it is loosened while preventing dislodgment of the chute cradle so long as some portion of the thumbscrew remains engaged with the coin chute, it being merely necessary to loosen, without removing, said thumbscrew to permit such removal of the chute.

In the utilization of such an escrow assembly, any of several choices of commercially available coin chute or acceptor may be employed. Coins of one, and generally three, denomination will be deposited in the scoopshaped coin entrance 35C at the top thereof, FIG. 5,

and will descend past various testing instrumentalities (well known and not described) to be tested for metallic content, weight, thickness, hardness, etc., and if acceptable, each denomination will be delivered ultimately to a corresponding coin exit passage 39?, 395, 391 (6 pence, l shilling and 2 shillings respectively in the acceptor shown) into the lower right-hand margin of the coin chute body, FIG. 10, and respectively positioned by the cradle arrangement to overlie the coin switch levers at a level such that the coin does not quite clear the exit margins while the switch lever arm is held in its first, or partially lowered, escrow position sustained by the escrow slide member 25, but when the slide is shifted to the release or collection position, the lever can move down an additional amount sufficient to permit the coin to clear the exit margins and drop into the usual cash box (not shown) situated below the escrow unit beneath the position of coin -C"-.

While the coin blocking finger means 13A, 13B, 13C is old per se and is not a necessary component of the escrow system, such arrangements are frequently associated with control circuits which utilize escrow arrangements in general, and the blocking means is illustrated because it is contrived to be supported on a common chassis or base structure, namely the escrow cradle, with the escrow unit itself, and the blocking finger electromagnet 13 can be shown schematically in FIG. 1 to be under control of the credit control circuitry 54 along with the escrow solenoid 30.

In such an arrangement no accepted coin can arrive at the escrow unit unless the usual blocking finger means is first released, the specific circuit means for accomplishing such control functions being varied in accordance with the requirements of the different vending or credit systems to be served in each case.

A from of control circuit means utilizing the improved escrow mechanism is diagrammed in FIG. 11 wherein it may be assumed that any one (or all) of the three coin switches -A-, -B-, -C-, on being held closed by corresponding values of an exiting coin retained on the appertaining operating lever or levers by the escrow slide, as heretofore described, will actuate the appertaining coin switch.

As soon as any coin switch is closed the motor 60 of a credit scanning and cycling switch means is energized through the application of power from such switch or switches, if more than one happens to be actuated, via conductor 61-A, -B, or -C and the normally closed contacts 62, A, B or C on any of the three corresponding coin credit transfer switches A3, B-3, C-3 and thence via the common conductor 63 and a chain circuit through normally closed contacts 64 on an Anti- Cheat cam switch-E-, and normally closed contacts 65 on a Coin Release Cut Off Switch -F-, to apply starting power via conductor 66 to the motor winding, which results in immediate closure of holding cam switch contacts 67 on the motor cycling cam switch -G- permitting the motor the complete one revolution of the set of switch cams before this circuit will again be broken to stop the motor and end the accounting cycle.

It will be evident that each of the three coin switches 15A, -B-, and -C- when closed will apply power to a corresponding Coin-Pulse Switch A2, B-2, or C-2, each of which will be closed a certain number of times during the single revolution of the cam assembly because each of the appertaining cams is provided with a certain number of switch-actuating lobes -L- corresponding to the credit value of the coin which will actuate the appertaining coin switch. For example, the highest value of coin (or a 25-cent piece) may be pulsed eight times by the eight lobes shown on cam switch A2, the highest value in this illustration, while five pulses will be derived from cam switch B-2 (corresponding for instance to a lO-cent coin) and only four pulses (for a Sixpence coin) from cam switch C-2, such value being of course arbitrary, and it being understood that if all three coin switches stand operated, then all three of the corresponding cam switches will produce their respective quota of pulses in the scanning and accounting cycle, totaling in this example a credit of 17 pulses.

The three coin credit transfer cam switches, A-3, B-3, C-3 are arranged to be held closed during the entire cycle or revolution of the cam shaft so that any or all of the coin switches which happen to be coin-actuated during any accounting cycle will have its assigned pulse value detected and credited by the corresponding coin pulsing switch A2, B-2, or C-2, it being understood that the arrangement of the various switch-actuating lobes or notches on the various cams in the assembly will be located angularly and of requisite angular length to assure that each coin switch will be held connected with its corresponding pulsing switch for the entire scanning cycle, and so that there will be no interference between the pulses from the respective cam switches owing to the relative angular spacing of the respective lobes on each cam disc.

The value of the pulses detected in each cycle from one, two, or three of the coin switches will be totalized by application of the resultant pulses applied via conductor 68 to the actuating coil 69 of a suitable form of totalizing switch means to be stored for whatever use is to be made of the credit resulting from the deposit, such for example as for the vending of a corresponding value of merchandise or the release of utility devices, amusement apparatus or the like.

The totalizing accumulating means 70 will commonly be of the resettable type adapted to be reset to Zero credit by a control pulse to a reset coil 73 which may originate from operation of the controlled credit utilization circuit or means 75, so that the totalizer may be assumed in this illustration always to start from a zero credit position. In general, it will be recognized that a great variety of utilitarian applications of the value pulses detected by the switch means A2, B-2, C-2, may be arranged to suit the requirements of each particular case.

False and fraudulent operations involving the coin escrow switches 15-A, B, -C, and their corresponding actuating levers 17, are guarded against during each credit scanning cycle by the provision of the Anti- Cheat cam switch means -E- and Anti-Fraud relay means 81, 82.

It has been pointed out that actuation of any coin escrow switch 15 initially applies power to the common coin-switch conductor 63, and this power starts the credit cycle at once and is then removed from conductor 63 for the duration of the cycle by action of the transfer cam switches A-3, B-3, C-3, shifting the coin switch power to the pulsing cam switches A2, B-2, C-2.

Should any coin element, fraudulent or otherwise, remain on any escrow coin switch lever 17 after the coin release solenoid 30 is actuated to dump the escrow coins (at about mid-cycle) any consequent existence of power on common conductor 63 caused thereby would be prevented from achieving any additional credit because of the now closed condition, for the duration of the cycle, of contacts 64A of the Anti-Cheat cam switch -E-, the said contacts applying the unwanted power via conductor 80 to energize the coil 81 of an Anti-Fraud relay, thereby opening normal contacts 82 thereof with a consequent interruption of the input power supply via conductors 85 to the primary winding 86 of the Transformer -T-.

The Anti-Fraud relay is of the type which locks up auto-matically on operation as aforesaid, preferably mechanically by means of a manually-releasable latch lever 84 located with the relay within the locked machine cabinet and accessible for restoration only by authorized personnel.

The coin lockout coil 13 is normally energized to withdraw the coin blocking fingers 13A, 13B, 13C, and permit free passage of deposited coins through the testing chute when the system is at rest awaiting normal and proper deposit of coins, this condition being achieved by connection of conductors 13X in series with the Secondary Winding 87 of the power transformer -T-, from which it will be evident that when the line cord or plug 86 is normally connected to the intended input power source, there will be power present at the Master Power Supply terminals, and the coin lockout coil 13 will be held energized to withdraw the coin blocking fingers.

However, should the line plug be pulled before the start or at the end of any credit cycle (as in attempts at certain kinds of fraud) the power supplied by the Transformer Secondary 88 would be cut off and the deflecting fingers 13 would fall back, preventing arrival of any or a surplus of coin elements at the escrow station (depending on the timing) and the mere quick plugging-in of the power cord again at opportune instants, as in the type of plug-pulling fraud alluded to, would achieve nothing more than return or rejection of such coin elements, or possibly a disabling of the machine by operation of the Anti-Fraud relay.

A further protective coin lockout feature resides in the provision of a coin lockout control cam -H- (FIG. 11) having a normally closed pair of contacts 90 in series, via conductors 91, with the energizing circuit of lockout coil 13 to the Secondary 87 of Transformer -T- so that when the credit cycle begins, lockout coil 13 is dropped out or deenergized to permit the lockout fingers 13-A, 13-B, l3-C, to move to coin-blocking position for the duration of the credit cycle, so that swamping or choking the chute passages or escrow station with superfluous coin elements by strategic timing is prevented.

Still another protective means is provided by a cycleguarding cam switch having contacts 95 which will be closed by guard cam -J- at the beginning of each credit cycle to connect via conductors 97, 97A, a sensitive chute entry switch 96 operative to energize the Anti- Fraud relay responsive to presence of a coin tether or wire 100 on a captive coin passing around the turn in the guide chute section 101 leading into the entrance 35C of the coin-testing chute, the chute switch having a small roller 98 projecting into the guide chute at a turn thereof for the purpose aforesaid. Operation of the guard switch 96 will pullin the Anti-Fraud relay with the lock-up and power-interruption results heretofore described, so that even if the fraudulent tethered coin is subsequently withdrawn, the cycle cannot be restored without manual resetting.

In each normal operating cycle of the described credit accounting and control circuitry the coins held in escrow will be freed for collection as the result of movement of the escrow slide 25 responsive to energization of the release solenoid 30 caused by closure of contacts 72 of Coin-Release Cam -D-, which occurs preferably about half-way through each cycle, it being evident that if any fraudulent or crippled or captive coin elements remain on the escrow switches 15, the Anti-Fraud relay safeguard will operate instantly and disable the machine before the credit is utilized; but an otherwise normal operating cycle will come to an end when the Motor Cycling Cam -G- completes one revolution to open the over-ride contacts 67 and stop the motor.

The credit stored in the totalizing means 69-70 in a normal operation will be used in the associate vending or amusement machine which, upon completion of its own operating cycle will return a reset pulse operative, via conductor 73X, to energize the Reset Coil 73 of the totalizer to restore the latter to a zero or starting condition.

We claim:

1. Escrow type coin control and credit apparatus including a plurality of coin-operated switches; a coin-engaged lever for each coin switch operative responsive to engagement by a coin to move from a normal position to a switch-operating position and beyond to a coin-freeing position; means providing a guideway beneath said lever; an escrow slide shiftable in said guideway from an escrow position, in which it prevents movement of said levers from switch-operating to coinfreeing position, to an escrow-release position in which said levers can move to said coin-freeing position; electromagnetic slide-actuating means including a driving plunger reciprocable to move the slide to and from said escrow and escrow-release position; and control circuit means governed by and governing said coin switches and including a cyclically-operable switching means acting in credit duty cycles initiated by operation of any coin switch to establish credit totalizing pulsing circuit connections for each said coin switch and operate said slide-actuating means; said control circuit means including credit-pulsing circuit means corresponding to each coin switch; a starting circuit normally connected with each coin switch following termination of each duty cycle and normally operative responsive to actuation of any of said coin switches to initiate a credit-duty cycle; and further switching means and circuit connections all controlled by said cyclically-operable switching means and operative following initiation of each duty cycle to disconnect each coin switch from said starting circuit for a predetermined remaining portion of such cycle and to connect each such disconnected coin switch with a corresponding said credit pulsing circuit means during such remaining portion of said duty cycle and restore the coin switches to said normally connected condition; cycle-terminating means operative in each duty cycle to terminate such cycle; and escrow-release circuit means acting in each duty cycle to operate said escrow-release actuating means at a time prior to termination of such duty cycle.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized in that the respective levers are provided with a coin-seating groove.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said escrow slide is a unitary molded plastic member having slide formations at opposite sides thereof, and said guideway has oppositely disposed slideways receiving said slide formations to support the escrow slide in substantially linear shifting motion as aforesaid.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said electromagnetic slide actuating means includes a solenoid having a bore coaxially aligned with the axis of movement of said escrow slide and said plunger reciprocates in said bore, said escrow member having a coupling yoke conformed therewith and interfitting with coupling groove means on said plunger.

5. In a coin escrow apparatus, the combination with a plurality of denominational coin switch means each adapted to be actuated by a coin held by an electrically actuated escrow means in operative relation therewith and freed therefrom by releasing action of said escrow means responsive to an electrical signal; an escrow and credit control circuit including cyclically-operable switching means having a duty cycle adapted to be initiated by operation of any said coin switch means; a starting circuit normally connected with each coin switch means and operative responsive to operation of any coin switch means to initiate a duty cycle as aforesaid; credit-pulsing means corresponding to each denomination of coin switch means; first circuit means operative under control of said cyclically-operable switching means as a function of each initiated duty cycle thereof to terminate such cycle at a particular time; second circuit means controlled by said cyclically-operable switching means operative during each duty cycle to temporarily disconnect each coin switch means from said starting circuit and interconnect each such coin switch means with a corresponding said credit-pulsing means for a predetermined remaining portion of the appertaining duty cycle; credit-registering means actuated by said credit-pulsing means; third circuit means controlled by the cyclically-operable switching means and operative prior to termination of each duty cycle thereof to restore the normal connection of said coin switch means with the starting circuit as aforesaid and to effect releasing action of the escrow means as aforesaid.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 having a power circuit supplied from an external source for operation as set forth and further characterized by the provision of anti-fraud relay means required to be set into an operative condition to render said power circuit opera tive and to be tripped out to disable said power circuit as the result of disconnection from said source; and anti-cheat circuit means controlled by said cyclicallyoperable switching means for connecting said antifraud relay means for tripping operation by actuation of coin switch means during predetermined portions of each duty cycle.

. UNITED v STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 696,905" Dated October 10, 1972 Roman A. Toj za and Frank C, De Simone Inventor-(s It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 11, "Bl-cent" should read lO-cent Column 5, line 60, after' "motor", "the" should read to 1 v I Column 7, line 16, "auto-matically" should read automatically Column 8, line 38 (Claim 1) "lever" should read 1 levers Signed and sealed this 29th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: v

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. 1 c'. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer 1 I Commissioner of Patents F ORM PC4050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 603 64 69 W U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE JD.) O-Ji-SSM 

1. Escrow type coin control and credit apparatus including a plurality of coin-operated switches; a coin-engaged lever for each coin switch operative responsive to engagement by a coin to move from a normal position to a switch-operating position and beyond to a coin-freeing position; means providing a guideway beneath said lever; an escrow slide shiftable in said guideway from an escrow position, in which it prevents movement of said levers from switch-operating to coin-freeing position, to an escrow-release position in which said levers can move to said coin-freeing position; electromagnetic slide-actuating means including a driving plunger reciprocable to move the slide to and from said escrow and escrow-release position; and control circuit means governed by and governing said coin switches and including a cyclically-operable switching means acting in credit duty cycles initiated by operation of any coin switch to establish credit totalizing pulsing circuit connections for each said coin switch and operate said slide-actuating means; said control circuit means including credit-pulsing circuit means corresponding to each coin switch; a starting circuit normally connected with each coin switch following termination of each duty cycle and normally operative responsive to actuation of any of said coin switches to initiate a credit-duty cycle; and further switching means and circuit connections all controlled by said cyclically-operable switching means and operative following initiation of each duty cycle to disconnect each coin switch from said starting circuit for a predetermined remaining portion of sucH cycle and to connect each such disconnected coin switch with a corresponding said credit pulsing circuit means during such remaining portion of said duty cycle and restore the coin switches to said normally connected condition; cycle-terminating means operative in each duty cycle to terminate such cycle; and escrow-release circuit means acting in each duty cycle to operate said escrow-release actuating means at a time prior to termination of such duty cycle.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized in that the respective levers are provided with a coin-seating groove.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said escrow slide is a unitary molded plastic member having slide formations at opposite sides thereof, and said guideway has oppositely disposed slideways receiving said slide formations to support the escrow slide in substantially linear shifting motion as aforesaid.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said electromagnetic slide actuating means includes a solenoid having a bore coaxially aligned with the axis of movement of said escrow slide and said plunger reciprocates in said bore, said escrow member having a coupling yoke conformed therewith and interfitting with coupling groove means on said plunger.
 5. In a coin escrow apparatus, the combination with a plurality of denominational coin switch means each adapted to be actuated by a coin held by an electrically actuated escrow means in operative relation therewith and freed therefrom by releasing action of said escrow means responsive to an electrical signal; an escrow and credit control circuit including cyclically-operable switching means having a duty cycle adapted to be initiated by operation of any said coin switch means; a starting circuit normally connected with each coin switch means and operative responsive to operation of any coin switch means to initiate a duty cycle as aforesaid; credit-pulsing means corresponding to each denomination of coin switch means; first circuit means operative under control of said cyclically-operable switching means as a function of each initiated duty cycle thereof to terminate such cycle at a particular time; second circuit means controlled by said cyclically-operable switching means operative during each duty cycle to temporarily disconnect each coin switch means from said starting circuit and interconnect each such coin switch means with a corresponding said credit-pulsing means for a predetermined remaining portion of the appertaining duty cycle; credit-registering means actuated by said credit-pulsing means; third circuit means controlled by the cyclically-operable switching means and operative prior to termination of each duty cycle thereof to restore the normal connection of said coin switch means with the starting circuit as aforesaid and to effect releasing action of the escrow means as aforesaid.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 having a power circuit supplied from an external source for operation as set forth and further characterized by the provision of anti-fraud relay means required to be set into an operative condition to render said power circuit operative and to be tripped out to disable said power circuit as the result of disconnection from said source; and anti-cheat circuit means controlled by said cyclically-operable switching means for connecting said anti-fraud relay means for tripping operation by actuation of coin switch means during predetermined portions of each duty cycle. 